The English Patient [DVD]

This movie was widely misunderstood on its' release - some found it's fractured story telling confusing, some found it difficult to sympathize with the central couple. Some thought it middle-class and smug - or worse, worthy. Perhaps its' success at the Oscars worked against it by creating false expectations in audiences. Many imagined it was going to be 'Gone With The Wind' crossed with 'Laurence of Arabia', and left the cinema perplexed by it. If that describes your reaction back in 1996, now might be a good time to reacquaint yourself with it - now that the weight of 9 Oscars has dissipated in the intervening years.But if you loved it from the beginning - as I did - you will greet this release with great enthusiasm. I have no doubt that fans of the movie will relish owning Anthony Minghella's (and cinematographer John Seale's) vision of this wonderful, rich and emotionally resonant story on Blu-Ray. That said, I think buyers should initially temper their expectations as regards the picture quality on this particular Blu-Ray release.That is not to say it is bad - it is not. It faithfully reproduces the images as originally shot. But many equate film grain as being something that Blu-Ray magically removes - and that all movies should be rendered crystal clear by the new format. Don't make that mistake here - the gritty 'look' of the film in the desert sequences was very deliberately crafted by the director. Conversely, when the story cuts to a different time and location - such as the scenes at the monastery - the gorgeous photography takes on a different texture, capturing the lush greens and golden sunlight of northern Italy, near the end of the second world war.The Blu-Ray format also offers superior quality audio compared with the DVD. It seems obvious to say it, but this is vital in a dialogue-rich film where words and imagery have equal weight. If you are watching it on a surround system, be warned that the soundtrack is punctuated with anti-aircraft guns, sandstorms, plane crashes, the chink-chink of glass viles, not to mention the heart-breakingly evocative music. I often use the first ten minutes of this disc as a demonstrator, such is the strength of it's imagery and audio mix.The English Patient has probably found it's most natural home on Blu-Ray, because it is a film that truly rewards repeated viewings - yielding subtle plot points, character traits and grace notes every time it's viewed. Its' main protagonists may not be immediately likeable - but the tragic decisions they make (and the consequences of those decisions on others' lives) create a haunting wartime love story undercut by mistaken national identity. A story that David Lean might have wanted to make, had he been around.As it was, we were lucky to have the hugely gifted - and greatly missed - Anthony Minghella to adapt the novel and commit it to celluloid. He went on to make three more feature films before he died (Talented Mr Riply, Cold Mountain and Breaking & Entering), but - as good as they were - 'Patient' is his greatest and most enduring film.

We control our hearts, we live under created rules, we fight within ourselves, however our primitive nature like a desert opens freedom and direct us to the true light of our existence to end our inner war. I like this movie very much.

Do a little research on story before watching. Concentrate when watching. It is a superb film

this dvd was brought to replace a video of this film

Not really though. It was made with American money.I you've read the novel you appreciate how well the script writers did in adapting it for the screen. The novel is very modern in style, fractured in time and space, subjective and objective with juxtaposing viewpoints.The plot:English wife of supposed explorer falls for mysterious Hungarian explorer in Cairo-based expedition in the late 30's. Tragedy follows leaving Hungarian burned and unrecognisable in allied hospital some years later.The detailed story is recounted in flashback as the English Patient and his Canadian French nurse lay up in derelict chateau in Tuscany.All the cast( with a couple of exceptions) put in quality performances, clothes and cars all look genuine.Kristen Scott Thomas is delicious throughout playing her now standard middle class English rose. Despite a couple of Rigsby moments Ralf Fiennes is wonderfully intense and inept as the lover spell-bound by her demur yet raunchy charms.Julliette Binoche well earned her Oscar as hers is the most beautifully poised performance of youthful innocence confronting the cruel world of war, death and deceit.It is a sad film. The only thing that weakens it is the lack of build up to the final soaring climax. Here the novel steps in,inconveniently, as we know that Katherine and Almassi had not actually been together for years until the final time in the cave. So the writers had to compromise and it shows.

One of the best movies ever made. Buy it.

I hadn't seen this movie for years and still only owned it on video. I read the reviews on amazon and this persuaded me to buy the blu ray over the dvd on what is a fairly old movie now. The blu ray picture is pretty good. Not one of the best, but on a decent 4k television it will upscale the picture and with an advanced picture setting it looks good. The sound is very good and displays the fantastic soundtrack of the film. There are some fine actors in this movie, Ralph Fiennes, Kristin Scott Thomas, Willem Dafoe, Juliette Binoche, Colin Firth and Naveen Andrews. Anthony Mingella was a brilliant director of this and The Talented Mr Ripley, and is sorely missed. It is one of the most beautifully filmed movies you will see, with a love story/affair, the Second World War in Africa, an engrossing plot and a first rate music score. I will certainly be watching this again soon. It scores on so many levels and is a classic.

A feast - great entertainment. The music, both dance and background theme, was magic.IJA

Awesome film with great actors !

Le film en Blu-ray est un must. Dommage qu’il n’y ai pas de bonus mais ceux-ci sont facilement trouvables sur YouTube.

Je croyais avoir remercié mon vendeur tant j'ai été heureuse de recevoir si rapidement et de revoir, revoir et encore revoir, ce magnifique long métrage qui vieillit très bien ! MERCI à lui pour m'avoir fait ce cadeau quand j'ai prêté mon précédent DVD jamais revenu ;o)Ce DVD attendu est un incontournable de toute médiathèque qui se respecte :o)))

Mit 9 ausgezeichneten Oscars ist "Der englische Patient" von Anthony Minghella aus dem Jahr 1996 gleich nach "Herr der Ringe: Rückkehr des Königs", "Ben Hur", "Titanic" und "West Side Story" einer der meist dekoriertesten Filmen in der Academy Geschichte.Er gewann in den Kategorien "Bester Film", "Bester Regisseur", Beste Nebendarstelerin Juliette Binoche", bester Ausstattung Stuart Craig, beste Kamera John Seale, beste Kostüme Ann Roth, bester Schnitt, bester Ton und beste Filmmusik. Deweiteren gabs noch drei weitere Nominierungen: Einmal für das Drehbuch und für die beiden Hauptdarsteller Ralph Fiennes und Kristin Scott Thomas, die allerdings gegen Geoffrey Rush (Shine) und Frances McDormand (Fargo) den Kürzeren zogen.An der Kasse spielte der Film 232 Millionen Dollar, was den Produzenten Saul Zaentz sicherlich riesig gefreut haben dürfte. Zaentz war auch der Macher der beiden Oscarsieger "Einer flog übers Kuckucksnest" und "Amadeus".Das British Film Institute wählte den Film auf Platz 55 der besten und wichtigsten Filme Großbritanniens. Dennoch hat der Film seither immer wieder polarisiert. Viele Kritiker sehen in "Der englische Patient" ein überlanges Rührstück. Man muss aber zugestehen, dass es in der Kinolandschaft kaum noch solche Filme gibt, die ganz stark an das Gefühl appellieren. Die Fans des Films stellen Minghellas Meisterwerk thematisch in die Nähe von "Casablanca" und optisch in die Nähe der David Lean Monumentalfilme."Der englische Patient" nach dem gleichnamigen Roman von Michael Ondaatje erzählt die Geschichte von vier Menschen, die sich in den letzten Kriegsmonaten des 2. Weltkriegs in einer verlassenen Villa in Norditalien aufhalten. Einer von ihnen ist ein sogenannter "englischer Patient" - ein Mann mit Verbrennungen, die sein Gesicht fast unkenntlich machen und nur noch sterben will. Dieser Mann wird von der jungen französisch-kanadischen Krankenschwester Hana (Juliette Binoche) des Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps gepflegt. Die junge Frau kümmert sich rührend um den schwerkranken Mann, der sein Gedächtnis verloren hat, was nur langsam zurückkehrt undder ihr irgendwann seine Geschichte erzählt. Die beiden anderen Personen in diesem verlassenen Kloster sind Lieutenant Kip Sigh (Naveen Andrews) und David Caravaggio (Willem Dafoe), ein Mitarbeiter des kanadischen Geheimdienstkorps, der aufgrund einer Folterung durch die Deutschen seine Daumen verloren hat. Der Patient erinnert sich, dass er Ende der 30er Jahre eine Region der Sahara, nahe der ägyptisch-libyschen Grenze erkundet hat. Irgendwann weiß er auch wieder, dass er der ungarische Kartograf Graf Laszlo de Almasy ist, der die Wüste kartographiert hat. Er lernt das britische Ehepaar Geoffrey (Colin Firth) und Katharine Cliton (Kristin Scott Thomas) kennen, die ein Flugzeug besitzen und daher sehr viel zu den Luftvermessungsbemühungen beitragen können. Während dieser Zeit verlieben sich Katherine und Almasy. Doch diese große Liebe endet tragisch...Bei einer Laufzeit von 160 Minuten ist etwas Geduld erforderlich, aber der aufwühlende Liebesfilm ist großartig besetzt und besticht durch seine dichte Atmosphäre. Die Kameraarbeit des australischen Kameramanns John Seale trägt sehr viel zu diesem intensiven Filmerlebnis bei. Neben seinem Oscarsieg für diesen Film war er vier weitere Male (Mad Max Fury Road, Der einzige Zeuge, Cold Mountain, Rain Man) als bester Kameramann für einen Oscar nominiert.

Could not view the movie as the DVD was from the wrong region